− | On the return journey, the envoys were permitted to engage in commercial interactions with local Chinese merchants, exchanging Japanese silver for silks and other goods. The silver was initially provided by merchants of the [[jokamachi|castle town]] of [[Kagoshima]], but by the late 17th century a larger percentage of this silver was provided by the lords of [[Satsuma han]], who often took out loans from [[Osaka]]-based [[rice broker|merchants]] in order to do so. A "reception mission" sent from Ryûkyû to escort the envoys back from Fuzhou brought additional silver and other goods, with which to purchase additional Chinese goods. Following their return to Ryûkyû, the envoys shipped off much of the goods obtained in China to Satsuma, who then sold it at markets in Osaka and [[Kyoto]]. | + | On the return journey, the envoys were permitted to engage in commercial interactions with local Chinese merchants, exchanging Japanese silver for silks and other goods. The silver was initially provided by merchants of the [[jokamachi|castle town]] of [[Kagoshima]], but by the late 17th century a larger percentage of this silver was provided by the lords of [[Satsuma han]], who often took out loans from [[Osaka]]-based [[rice broker|merchants]] in order to do so. |
| + | A "reception mission" sent from Ryûkyû to escort the envoys back from Fuzhou brought additional silver and other goods, with which to purchase additional Chinese goods. Following their return to Ryûkyû, the envoys shipped off much of the goods obtained in China to Satsuma, who then sold it at markets in Osaka and [[Kyoto]]. |